I think what makes the constant Lizzo hate so unfortunate is that she really is unproblematic. Sure, if she was this consistent ball of negativity or a bad role model, I can see where people might decide to speak towards that. However, it’s just not giving that.
Despite achieving tremendous success with record-breaking singles and sold-out world tours, Lizzo still faces persistent negativity. This is particularly true on social media. On May 31, Lizzo expressed her frustration in a series of online posts. She is annoyed at the fact that some people continually focus on her weight. She would rather people acknowledge her artistic accomplishments. Apparently, someone wrote a tweet questioning how the pop star could still be overweight despite her energetic stage performances. Lizzo understandably voiced that it was annoying to encounter such comments on a daily basis.
“I JUST logged on and the app and this is the type of sh*t I see about me on a daily basis,” Lizzo wrote. “It’s really starting to make me hate the world. Then someone in the comments said I eat ‘lots of fast food’ I LITERALLY STOPPED EATING FAST FOOD YEARS AGO… I’m tired of explaining myself all the time and I just wanna get on this app w/out seeing my name in some bullsh*t. Yall speak on sh*t y’all know NOTHING ABOUT and I’m starting to get heated.”
Lizzo responds to the onslaught of fatphobic comments she faces daily:
“Y'all don't know how close I be to giving up on everyone and quitting and enjoying my money and my man on a FUCKING FARM..” pic.twitter.com/FkDtwxZfti
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 31, 2023
Through subsequent tweets seen above, Lizzo further conveyed her feelings on the matter. She said that although she receives support from her fans, the overwhelming amount of vitriol she encounters on social media tarnishes her experience. She expressed a desire for a more private life away from the public eye. “Y’all don’t know how close I be to giving up on everyone and quitting and enjoying my money and my man on a F*CKING FARM…” she wrote. Lizzo’s fans offered their support and advised her not to search for her own name on social media. Lizzo clarified that she never actually searches her name. However, the algorithm still presents negative content on her timeline and ‘For You’ page.
Throughout her music, Lizzo has championed body positivity and self-love. She reiterated this message in her tweets, emphasizing that being fat is not her brand but simply a physical characteristic. She defined her brand as creating feel-good music and advocating for all people, particularly the liberation of black girls. “BEING FAT ISNT MY ‘BRAND’ BEING FAT IS WHAT MY BODY LOOKS THAT. THATS IT. THATS ALL,” she said. “My ‘brand’ is FEEL GOOD MUSIC… CHAMPIONING ALL PEOPLE…. BLACK GIRL LIBERATION.” What do you think of Lizzo’s response to the hate? Why do you think she gets people so bothered?
